MIAMI — The champagne formed a puddle on the locker room floor and the air filled with cigar smoke as the Miami Heat celebrated their second consecutive championship.

In the visiting locker room, the San Antonio Spurs sat in stunned silence. They were seconds away from hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy themselves in Game 6 and they had plenty of opportunities in Game 7 Tuesday. However, they couldn't get it done and now they had to sit and listen to shrieking Heat fans run by the locker room entrance, reminding them of their shortcomings.

The Spurs' resurgent postseason was finished. But Kawhi Leonard is just getting started.

Before the Finals, the Spurs small forward lacked national name recognition. Miami talk radio hosts laughed off the idea of a 21-year-old role player having an impact against four-time NBA MVP LeBron James.

Then the series began. Often the youngest player on the court, Leonard was one of the Spurs' biggest weapons on both ends of the floor, throwing down big dunks and going toe to toe with James and Dwyane Wade on defense.

"I just talked to Kawhi and told him he was absolutely amazing," Popovich said after Game 7. "Nobody expected him at this young age to play the way he has through the whole playoffs. He really is a star in the making. He's just beginning to feel what he has. He's like a little baby learning how to walk, as far as NBA basketball is concerned. He (could be) a senior in college this year, and he's come so far, and a lot of that credit goes to [Spurs assistant coaches] Chip Engelland and Chad Forcier what they've done in developing him."

Leonard understands that the Spurs will be his team soon, and he's ready for the increased responsibilities. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker are in the twilight of their careers, but Leonard is just getting started. He's one of the cornerstones of the Spurs' franchise and if his play in this year's Finals was any indication, this won't be the last time he's starring on basketball's biggest stage.

Leonard averaged 14.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals in the seven games and had 19 points and 16 rebounds in Game 7. The quiet player selected No. 15 in 2011 out of San Diego State already is moving past the defeat.

"It's very tough, knowing you left it all out on the floor," Leonard said after the Game 7 loss. "All I can do is learn from it moving forward, try to get better this summer and try to get the team back here next year."

Game 2 in Miami: Heat 103, Spurs 84 - Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) dunks against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter of game two of the 2013 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena. Derrick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sports

Game 1 in Miami: Spurs 92, Heat 88 --Miami Heat small forward LeBron James drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan during the first quarter Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports